Combination chair plate and rail brace



May 19, 1931. A. GRAZIANI 1,806,254

"COMBINATION CHAIR PLATE AND RAIL BRACE F iled Oct. 17, 1929 F709. gr'azz'a /n INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.-

Patented May 19, 1931 PATENT OFFICE FRANK ANTONIO GRAZIANI, OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA GOIHBINATIGN PLATE AN D RAIL BRACE Application filed October 17, 1929.

This invention relates to an improved combination chair plate and rail brace intended for use in conjunction with railroad tracks.

One object of the invention is to provide a combination chair plate and rail brace where in the rail seats employed are inclined inwardly for permitting the conical peripheries of the wheels of the rolling stock to rest flat upon the upper surfaces of the rail treads.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. combination chair plate and rail brace having shanks which are formed integrally with the plates employed and wherein the junction between the shanks and plates will be amply reinforced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination chair plate and rail brace which may be secured in position on a tie by ordinary railroad spikes and which does not employ complicated anchoring means.

Still further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned in the foregoing will appear during the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device in position on a cross tie.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device showing the rails in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing more clearly the construction of one of the chair plates employed.

Referring now to the drawings, the numera1 1 indicates a conventional cross tie and associated therewith are rails 2 having flanges 3.

Overlying the cross tie l and disposed between the rails 2 and said tie are substantially rectangular metal chair plates 4: having seats 5 to receive the rail flanges 3, said seats defining outer shoulders 6 and inner shoulders 7 Formed in the shoulders near each end thereof are pairs of oppositely disposed spikereceiving openings and driven through said openings are spikes 8 having their overhanging heads disposed to overlie the margins of the rail flanges whereby the rails are secured in position. As will be observed in Figure 3 of the drawings, the plates are 50 thickened toward the outer margins of the Serial No. 400,330.

seats, thus inwardly inclining said seats. The plates are tapered in width from the inner shoulders 7 to the inner ends thereof and are also increased in thickness toward said inner ends.

Formed in the tapered portions of the chair plates 4 are medially disposed spike receiving openings and driven through said openings into the tie are spikes 8'.

Formed on the thickened inner ends of the chair plates 4 are substantially cylindrical shanks 9 which are offset at their inner ends to extend in parallel spaced relation to the upper surface of the tie. Connecting the free ends of the shanks is a turnbuckle 10 operatively joining the chair plates with each other to provide bracing means for the rails.

As can be seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, the thickened inner portions of the chair plates serve to reinforce the junctions of said shanks with the chair plates to thus protect against fracture.

As the rail flanges rest in the inclined seats 5, the treads will be so disposed that the conical peripheries of the wheels of the rolling stock will lie flat against the upper surfaces of said treads, thus allowing even wear of the treads and preventing the wheels from becoming circumferentially grooved.

Having thus described the invention, I

claim: A device of the character described includ ing chair plates each thickened from a medial transverse plane toward opposite ends thereof, the plates being provided at their outer end portions with rail seats and at their inner ends with shanks, and means engaging said shanks and connecting the plates to form a rail brace.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK ANTONIO GRAZIANI. [L.s.] 

